Multi-use antimicrobial hygienic door opener

ABSTRACT

A multi-use hygienic door opener device with a hook-like configuration and an integral keypad contacting push button knob that allows a user to hygienically open doors without touching the door handles and that can be conveniently carried. Furthermore, the integral keypad contacting push button hook and knob multi-use feature also allows the user to operate public keypads without touching the keypad. For convenience, an integral key ring feature keeps the present door opener device handy, as one always carries their keys. Using PIN keypads without worry about germs is now possible at gas stations, grocery stores, and the like.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/538,063, filed on Jul. 28, 2017.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

TILE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS WEB)

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a multi-use hygienic door opener, and more particularly relates to a hygienic door opener with an integral keypad contacting knob for non-contact entering of data.

The use of public contact areas usually involves touching surfaces that other people have previously contacted, potentially depositing their germs thereon which can spread germs and disease. Such public contact areas may include door handles in restrooms and entering data on, keypads for PIN numbers and the like. Such contact has become a necessity for most people who attend public schools, work in public buildings, touch communal keypads and travel long distance on public roads. It is well established that door handles in public restrooms and other doors in public buildings can be a source of spreading germs. In addition, the use of public ATM's and, gas pumps can require a user to touch a keypad that is commonly touched by other users and is infrequently cleaned or disinfected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a hygienic hook-like configuration door opener device with an integral keypad contacting push button knob that allows a user to open doors without touching the door handles and that can be conveniently carried. The integral hook and knob multi-use feature also allows the user to operate public keypads without touching the keypad.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description, and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected aspects and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-use hygienic door opener according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the multi-use hygienic door opener shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the multi-use hygienic door opener shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the multi-use hygienic door opener shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative multi-use hygienic door opener according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a front plan view of the multi-use hygienic door opener shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of the multi-use hygienic door opener shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the multi-use hygienic door opener shown in FIG. 6.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In accordance with the present invention, numerous aspects will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying FIGS. 1-9, along with descriptions of the appropriate materials and anti-microbial plastics or other suitable anti-microbial materials used in the fabrication of the invention.

With combined reference to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a multi-use hygienic door opener 10 according to the principles of the present disclosure. The multi-use hygienic door opener 10 includes a handle portion 12, an arm portion 14 extending from the handle portion 12, a hook portion 16 extending from the arm portion 14 and a push button knob 18 extending upwardly and outwardly from the arm portion 14. The handle portion 12 preferably includes an aperture 20 that is adapted to receive a key ring so, that the multi-use hygienic door opener 10 can be mounted to a key ring. The handle portion 12 can include a forward face portion 22 that allows a user to wrap one or more fingers around the forward face portion 22 and pull on the handle portion 12 while the hook portion 16 is engaged with a door handle.

The shape of the handle portion 12 can vary depending upon a desired use. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the handle portion 12 is designed with a minimal length and space, requirement that allows the multi-use hygienic, door opener 10 to be easily stored on a key ring with other keys and so as not to be cumbersome in a user's pocket or purse. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 6-9, the handle portion 112 is shown including a longer handle body that is similar to that of a typical automobile key. The larger handle portion 112 facilitates the printing or labeling of various types of indicia thereon that can be used for marketing and advertising, purposes. The handle portion 12 shown in FIGS. 1-5 is also capable of having printed indicia thereon on a side face 26, albeit it is significantly smaller than the side face 126 of the handle portion 112. As one can imagine, any surface is suitable for an advertising space.

The arm portion 14 can extend from the forward face portion 22 of the handle portion 12, 112. The arm portion 14, the hook portion 16 and the push button knob 18 can be reinforced with ribbing 28 to strengthen the arm portion and prevent bending thereof. The arm portion 14 can have a generally oval, round, square, rectangle or other polygonal cross-sectional, shape or any other suitable shape to achieve any desired look.

The hook portion 16 can have an arcuate or other hook shape that facilitates the hooking of the hook portion 16 around various shaped handles so that a door handle can be hooked and a door can be pulled open easily without any contact by the user, thereby preventing germs from coming into contact with the hands of the user. Hook portion 16 may have an arcuate radius of from 0.05 to 10 radial arc angles with reference to the overall length of the hygienic door opener and a ratio of length to radius of from 0.10 to about 5.0, and most preferably from 1 to 3. It is preferable for the radial arc angle to be from 1.0 to 5.0 to accommodate most door handle radii and diameter.

The push button knob 18 extends from the arm portion 14 in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the forward face portion 22. The push button knob 18 can have a generally flat region 34 as shown in FIGS. 1-4, or may otherwise be of a generally spherical tip 36, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-9. The push button knob 18 can be covered with a rubber or other resilient, coating or sleeve to provide an improved tactile feel when the push button knob 18 engages a key of a touchpad like those at grocery stores when punching in a password for use with a debit card, or a password on a gas station keypad. Furthermore, the push button, knob 18 may include a conductive material coated on or embedded therein to be able to be used as a stylus on a public capacitive touch screen. In other words, instead of having to directly contact a germ laden public touch screen or keypad, a user of the present invention would simply utilize the push button knob 18 to make that contact instead.

According to a first preferred aspect, the multi-use hygienic door opener 10 can have a total length L from the handle portion 12 to the end of the push button knob 18 of less than 10 cm and more preferably 8.5 cm and a width W of less than 4 cm and more preferably 3.5 cm or less with a thickness T of less than 1 cm. The handle portion can have a length LH of less than 4 cm and according to the aspect of FIGS. 1-4, a length LH of less than 2 cm and more preferably less than 14 mm. The arm portion 14 can have a width WA of 1 cm or less and the face region 34 of the push button knob 18 can have a diameter D of 1 cm or less.

The multi-use hygienic door opener 10 can be integrally formed as a one-piece member from an engineering plastic or from other alternative materials such as pour formed metal and slip cast ceramic. In other aspects, the present invention can be stamped out materials, again including metals, plastics or ceramics. In certain, aspects, the material can be reinforced with an over-molded insert or other embedded fiber reinforcements. The door opener device may be integrally formed as a one-piece member made of a material selected from the group consisting of engineering plastic, pour formed metals, slip cast ceramics, over-molded inserts, embedded fiber reinforcements, and combinations thereof.

In another aspect of the present invention, the handle portion 112 can be provided with a hinged door 126 for access to a small cavity within the handle portion 112. The small cavity may be covered by hinged door 126, and can be utilized for storing emergency medicines or other small items, such as candies or several aspirin could be stored in the small cavity to be taken in the event of heart attack or, for example, nitroglycerin pills for angina. Similarly, small items for any purpose can be stored therein. Further the handle portion may have a flat writing surface that facilitates the printing or labeling of various types of indicia thereon that can be used for marketing and advertising purposes. The industry of promotional products for advertising are interested in unusual items that are generally used on a daily basis by a customer. Of special interest to advertisers are relatively inexpensive items that are not thrown away, but rather are kept close, at hand, so that the advertising portion is always in sight, in order to reinforce the advertising message.

In use, the multi-use hygienic door opener 10 can be conveniently stored on a user's key ring along with other keys. It is adapted for attachment to a key chain, a badge retractor, a belt loop or a purse. The multi-use hygienic door opener 10 can be utilized for engaging the hook portion 16 around a door handle of a public bathroom or building and the handle 12 can be utilized for pulling the door to an open position. This way, a user's hands do not come in contact, with the public door handle so that the spread of germs can be reduced. By incorporating anti-microbial inclusion or coatings in the fabricated material, any germs that the multi-use hygienic door opener collects during operation will be disinfected.

In addition, the push button knob 18 of the multi-use hygienic door opener 10 can be utilized for engaging a keypad of a public ATM, gas pump or other public device. The convenient mounting of the multi-use hygienic door opener 10 on the user's key chain enhances the accessibility of the door opener 10 when the user is in the public since they typically have their keys with them. By utilizing the push button knob to type in a password on a public access keypad, the user does not come into direct contact with any germs that may reside there from previous users. As more fully described hereinbelow, the push button knob may be made of a material that incorporates an anti-microbial agent that will kill any germs that the knob might pick up in the course of entering data onto a public access keypad.

In another aspect of the present invention, a soft durometer rubber-like knob cover may be included on the touch end of the push button knob to provide better traction when entering data on a keypad or the like. This knob cover can either be integrated into the push button knob itself or it can be a separate piece to be assembled over the push button knob prior to sale of the door opener so that positive contact is possible and better fraction between the push button knob and the keypad may be made to alleviate or eliminate erroneous data entry. The knob cover is preferably made of a soft plastic which is semi-elastic and adapted for being press fit over the push button knob. The soft knob cover may then be replaced or removed easily. In the event that the push button knob and the knob cover are manufactured in a single step, different materials can be injected into the mold, or in the alternative, an ovenmold of softer material over a more rigid material can be accomplished. This rubber-like knob may also incorporate an anti-microbial agent that will kill any germs.

Suitable plastics or metal materials, used in the fabrication of the present invention may include resins or polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurea, polyurethane, or other suitable plastic materials. Depending on the desired application, the multi-use hygienic door opener may include, or may be coated with, an anti-microbial material, such as Microban®, commercially available from Jon-Don Corporation of Chicago, Ill. Furthermore, a low concentration metallic silver component may be included or coated on my device for anti-microbial action in concentrations of from 0.001% percent, by weight to 5% percent by weight of the total fabrication weight of material. While other suitable anti-bacterial components may be utilized within or coated on the resin to accomplish this anti-microbial action, metal fabrication may be coated or plated with copper and its alloys, such as brasses, bronzes, copper, nickel, copper—nickel—zinc, and others; silver and silver containing alloys; zinc and zinc pyrion coatings on either plastic or metal; organosilanes; or other metallic antimicrobial materials. Silver compounds and silver ions may be incorporated into a polymeric construct material for the present door opener to show antimicrobial properties. As a preferable aspect of the present invention, it has been shown that silver ions prevent DNA replication and affect the structure and permeability of the cell membrane. Silver also leads to UV inactivation of bacteria and viruses because silver ions are photoactive in the presence of UV-A and UV-C irradiation.

Antimicrobial polymers, also known as polymeric biocides, are a suitable class of polymers for the present invention with antimicrobial activity as they have the ability to inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or protozoans. Antimicrobial agents in concentrations of from 0.001% percent by weight to 5% percent by weight of the total fabrication weight of material kill bacteria through different methods depending on the type of bacteria.

As untreated plastic articles can be attacked by microbic growth causing unsightly discoloration, unpleasant odors, and polymer degradation issues, antimicrobial additives can be incorporated within plastic resins during compounding or as a master batch during molding to provide a biocide treatment to control microbes. Bio-compatible technologies in concentrations of from 0.001% percent by weight to 5% percent by weight of the total fabrication weight of material may be employed to make plastics and/or polymers antimicrobial with an antibacterial performance of up to 99% within 24 hours, thereby killing germs within short order after contacting with contaminated surfaces. In yet another aspect, BioCote® is able to provide antimicrobial additives for plastics and polymers of all types, and is commercially available from BioCote, Ltd. of Oxfordshire, Great Britain.

EXAMPLES

Polymers Synthesized from Antimicrobial Monomers and their Antimicrobial Properties Inhibited Comparison Microbial Antimicrobial of Polymers Monomer Species Mechanism with Monomer

Fungus: C. Albicans; A. niger Slow release of 4-amino- N-(5-methyl- 3-isoxazoly) benzene- sulfonamide The homopolymer is more effective than the monomer at all concentrations.

Bacteria: Gram- positive; Gram- negative Tin moiety on the polymer surface interacts with the cell wall. Copolymerization of antimicrobial monomer and styrene decreases the potency of the monomer.

Bacteria: S. Aureus; P. aeruginosa; E. coli; The presence of benzimidazole derivatives inhibit cytochromeP-450 monooxygenase The homopolymer is more effective than the monomer.

Bacteria: Gram- positive; Gram- negative Release of norfloxacin which inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and cell growth. —

Bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus Active agent is 2,4,4′-trichloro- 2′-hydroxy- diphenyl-ether The homopolymer and copolymers with methyl methacrylate, styrene are all less effective than the monomer.

Bacteria: S. aureus, P. aeruginosa; Active agent is phenol group. Polymerization significantly decreases the anitimicriobial activity of the monomers.

Bacteria: E-coli Direct transfer of oxidative halogen from polymer to the cell wall of the organism. —

Bacteria: E. coli; S. aureus; S. typhimurium Release of 8- hydroxyquinoline moieties The homopolymer and the copolymers with acrylamide are both less effective than the monomer.

Bacteria: Gram- positive bacteria Active agent is Sulfonium salt The homopolymer is more effective than the corresponding model compound (p-ethylbenzyl tetramethylene sulforium tetrafluoroborate).

Bacteria: Oral streptococci Direct cationic binding to cell wall, which leads to the disruption of the cell wall and cell death. —

Bacteria: S. aureus; E-coli Cationic biocides targets the cytoplasmic membranes; Similarities of the polymer pendent groups and the lipid layer enhances diffusion into the cell wall The monomers are not active, while homopolymers show moderate activities in concentration from 1 mg/mL to 3.9 mg/mL.

Bacteria: S. aureus; E. coli Membrane disruption —

Bacteria: Staphylococcus; E. coli Immobilization of high concentrations of chlorine to enable rapid biocidal activities and the liberation of very low amounts of corrosive free chlorine into water —

The above examples include antimicrobial monomers which are included in a preferred aspect of the invention, and may be added into the plastic resin as a masterbatch formulation prior to molding. As noted, low concentrations of the antimicrobial monomers are effective, such as 1 mg to 3.9 mg per milliliter of resin.

In yet another preferred aspect of the present invention, a hygienic door opener made in accordance with the present invention can be made to be antimicrobial by placing the resulting formed hygienic door opener, whether it be plastic, metal or ceramic, into a sulfonation chamber for a resident time of from less than 1 second to several minutes and subjecting the final formed part to concentrated sulfur trioxide gas, rendering the door opener to be antimicrobial for the life of the unit.

Example aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of aspects of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example aspects may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some aspects, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example aspects only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the FIGS. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the FIGS. For example, if the device in the FIGS. is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The foregoing description of the aspects has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of, a particular aspect are generally not limited to that particular aspect, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected aspect, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-use hygienic door opener device, comprising: a handle portion 12; an arm portion 14 extending from the handle portion 12; a hook portion 16 extending from the arm portion 14; and a push button knob 18 extending upwardly and outwardly from the arm portion being adapted as an integral keypad contacting push button knob that allows a user to open doors without touching the door handles and that can be conveniently carried, and wherein said integral integral keypad contacting push button hook and knob multi-use feature also allowing the user to operate public keypads without touching the keypad.
 2. The multi-use hygienic door opener of claim 1, wherein said handle portion includes a handle body having a flat writing surface that facilitates the printing or labeling of various types of indicia thereon that can be used for marketing and advertising purposes.
 3. The multi-use hygienic door opener of claim 1, further comprising a small cavity having hinged door 126 for access to the small cavity within the handle portion 112, to be utilized for storing emergency medicines or other small, items, such as candies or several aspirin could be stored in the small cavity to be taken in the event of heart attack or nitroglycerin pills for angina.
 4. The multi-use hygienic door opener of claim 1, wherein the arm portion extending from the handle portion is reinforced with ribbing 28 to strengthen the arm portion and prevent bending thereof, and the arm portion 14 has a generally oval, round, square, rectangle or other polygonal cross-sectional shape or any other suitable shape to achieve any desired look.
 5. The multi-use hygienic door opener of claim 1, wherein said hook portion extending from the arm portion has an arcuate radius of from 0.05 to 10 radial arc angles with reference to the overall length of the hygienic door opener and a ratio of arm portion length to radius of from 0.10 to about 5.0.
 6. The multi-use hygienic door opener of claim 5, wherein said hook portion extending from the arm portion has an arcuate radius ratio of from 1 to 3 and a radial arc angle ratio from 1.0 to 5.0.
 7. The multi-use hygienic door opener of claim 1, wherein the push button knob extending upwardly and outwardly from the arm portion adapted as an integral keypad contacting knob is made of a soft durometer rubber-like knob cover included on the touch end of the push button knob to provide better traction when entering data on a keypad or the like.
 8. The multi-use hygienic door opener of claim 1, wherein the door opener device is integrally formed as a one-piece member made of a material selected from the, group consisting of engineering plastic including resins of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurea, polyurethane, or other suitable plastic materials, pour formed metals, slip cast ceramics, over-molded inserts, embedded fiber reinforcements, and combinations thereof.
 9. The multi-use hygienic door opener of claim 1, wherein the door opener device is made of a material further comprising an anti-microbial composition selected from the group consisting of
 10. The multi-use hygienic door opener of claim 1, wherein said door opener is made of polymeric biocide, a suitable clams of polymers for the present invention with antimicrobial activity as they have the ability to inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or protozoans.
 11. The multi-use hygienic door opener of claim 1, wherein said door opener is made of an antimicrobial plastic having antimicrobial agents in concentrations of from 0.001% percent by weight to 5% percent by weight of the total fabrication weight of material.
 12. The multiuse hygienic door opener of claim 1, wherein the hygienic door opener is rendered to be antimicrobial by placing the hygienic door opener into a sulfonation chamber for a resident time of from less than 1 second to several minutes and subjecting the hygienic door opener to concentrated sulfur trioxide gas, rendering the door opener to be antimicrobial for life. 